Disk array apparatus including controller that executes control to move data between storage areas based on a data protection level

ABSTRACT

A disk array apparatus capable of effecting saving and operation of data through a simple construction. When a host computer sets “write inhibit” or “read/write inhibit” for an LDEV which is set on a first storage device, this setting is registered in an access attribute management table and is also reflected onto a migration management table. A migration control program moves the LDEV for which access limitation has been set to a lower-speed (lower-performance) second storage device or to an external storage device. When the access limitation is released, the moved LDEV is restored to the first storage device from the storage device to which the LDEV has been moved. By performing migration control in interlocking relation to control of access attributes, it is possible to obtain a simple data saving function and data management function.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 10/771,455, filedFeb. 5, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,149.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a disk array apparatus in which it ispossible to utilize a plurality of kinds of storage devices, and to acontrol method for control of the disk array apparatus.

A disk array apparatus is constructed on the basis of, for example, theuse of RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Inexpensive Disks), in whicha multiplicity of disk drives are disposed in an array. Each of the diskdrives has a physical storage area; and, logical volumes (logicaldevices), which constitute logical storage areas, are formed on thephysical storage area. A host computer is capable of reading and writingdesired data from and to the disk array apparatus by issuing a writecommand or a read command having a predetermined format to the diskarray apparatus.

One known example of a technique for exerting access control on datastored in the disk array apparatus is embodied in a disk control methoddescribed in a patent publication (JP-A-2000-112822). This method setsany one of three kinds of access attributes, including “read and writeenable”, “write disable” and “read and write disable”, for each logicaldevice in a RAID system. In addition, this method changes the responseand processing as to various commands sent from a host computer inaccordance with access attributes set for individual logical devices.

Independently of demands for access control on logical devices, thereare increasing market demands for long-term saving of data stored inlogical devices. For example, organizations, such as enterprises andgovernment and municipal offices, manage various kinds and largequantities of data, such as electronic mail data, contract data anddocument data. Some of these kinds of data need to be saved for apredetermined period by law or company policy. Although the period ofobligatory saving differs for the kinds of data, certain kinds of datamust be saved for a period of several to ten and several years (or farmore years).

For this reason, a system manager archives and manages data that must besaved for a long term. At the request of an audit organization or thelike, the system manager searches for and accesses the correspondinglong-term saved data from a disk array apparatus and provides therequested data to the audit organization or the like. Accordingly, ifvarious kinds and large quantities of data are to be saved for a longterm, the system manager needs to manage the storage areas of individualdata and the like, and must perform time-consuming work for management,operation and maintenance of long-term saved data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a disk array apparatusin which it is possible to manage and operate data in a simple manner,and to provide a control method for control of such a disk arrayapparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disk arrayapparatus in which it is possible to easily save and manage data for along term even if the environment of the host system changes, and acontrol method for control of such a disk array apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the whole of a diskarray apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the data of an LDEV configurationmanagement table;

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the data of a migration management table;

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing the data of an access attribute managementtable;

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the correspondence between access attributemodes and enabled operations;

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the correspondence between access attributemodes and inhibit bits;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the relationship between storagedevices and LDEVs;

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a case where a storage location movesaccording to the settings of access attribute modes, and also shows acase where access limitation has been set;

FIG. 5B is a diagram similar to FIG. 5A, showing a case where accesslimitation has been released;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing a cooperative relationshipbetween migration control processing and access attribute controlprocessing;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram similar to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram similar to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the access attribute control processing;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the migration control processing (for datamovement);

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the migration control processing (for datarestoration); and

FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams showing the states of the respectivetables relative to data restoration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

To solve the above-described problems, a disk array apparatus accordingto the present invention includes a host adapter for transferring databetween a host system and the disk array apparatus, a cache memory forstoring data written from the host adapter, a storage device adapter forexecuting control to write data to the cache memory or to read data fromthe cache memory, a control memory to which control information is to bewritten by the host adapter and the storage device adapter, a pluralityof kinds of storage devices to which data is to be written on the basisof control of the storage device adapter, and a data movement controlpart provided in the storage device adapter. The host adapter creates aplurality of logical devices on the basis of storage areas of theplurality of kinds of storage devices and executes control to cause theplurality of logical devices to be objects to be accessed from the hostsystem. The data movement control part executes control, when the hostadapter receives an access control command to specify an accessoperation to a first logical device included in the plurality of logicaldevices, to move data associated with the first logical device among aplurality of storage devices that are different in reliability from oneanother and are included in the plurality of kinds of storage devices,according to the content of the specified access operation.

The host system is constructed as, for example, a personal computer, aworkstation, a server, a main frame, or a portable information terminal.The storage devices are constructed as storage devices, such as harddisk drives, flexible disk drives or semiconductor memory devices. Theplurality of kinds of storage devices, each having a differentattribute, are, for example, high performance internal devices and lowperformance internal devices, high speed internal devices and low speedinternal devices, storage devices having a high reliability and storagedevices having a low reliability, or storage devices provided inside thedisk array apparatus and storage devices existing in a storage controldevice outside the disk array apparatus.

The data movement control part can be provided in, for example, thestorage device adapter. Otherwise, the data movement control part canalso be realized by cooperation between the storage device adapter andthe host adapter. The data movement control part can be realized by acomputer program, the cooperative work between a computer program and ahardware circuit, or a hardware circuit. The data movement control part,when receiving an access control command from the host system, movesdata among the plurality of storage devices (for example, among storagedevices having different reliabilities). The access control commandincludes commands having a data manipulation preventing function, suchas a write inhibit command (read only) and a read/write inhibit command(read and write disable). Any of these commands inhibits writing and hasa certain effect in preventing data manipulation. Any of the accesscontrol commands can be configured to control access operations in unitsof storage devices created on the basis of storage areas of the storagedevices. The data movement control part can move data in units oflogical devices.

The data movement control part can move data stored in the first storagedevice to the second storage device when the access operation relativeto the data is limited by the access control command.

On the other hand, the data movement control part can move the datastored in the second storage device to the first storage device when thelimitation of the access operation relative to the data is released bythe access control command.

In this manner, when, for example, a write inhibit command or aread/write inhibit command is issued from the host system, the datamovement control part moves the data stored in the first storage deviceto the second storage device according to this command.

On the other hand, for example, when a mode, such as “write inhibit” or“read/write inhibit”, is released, the data movement control partrestores the data that was moved to the second storage device back tothe first storage device. Accordingly, merely by specifying the accessattribute of data, it is possible to change the storage position of thedata.

Otherwise, when the access operation relative to the data stored in thefirst storage device is limited by the access control command, the datamovement control part can move the data to the second storage deviceafter a preset predetermined time has elapsed. Namely, even when theaccess operation is limited, it is possible to maintain the currentaccessibility for a predetermined time merely by maintaining the currentstorage position for the predetermined time.

The access control command includes a first access control command whichapplies a relatively larger limitation to the access operation and asecond access control command which applies a relatively smallerlimitation to the access operation. The data movement control part (1)moves the data stored in the first storage device to the second storagedevice when the access operation relative to the data is limited by thefirst access control command, and (2) moves the data stored in the firststorage device to the second storage device after a preset predeterminedtime has elapsed, when the access operation relative to the data islimited by the second access control command.

Namely, it is possible to change data moving methods according to thekind of access control command. For example, the first access controlcommand can be a write/read inhibit command, while the second accesscontrol command can be a read inhibit command.

In the case where the second storage device includes an upper-sidesecond storage device and a lower-side second storage device, the datamovement control part (1) moves the data stored in the first storagedevice to the lower-side second storage device when the access operationrelative to the data is limited by the first access control command, and(2) when the access operation relative to the data stored in the firststorage device is limited by the second access control command, the datamovement control part moves the data to the upper-side second storagedevice, and after a preset predetermined time has elapsed, it can movethe data back to the lower-side second storage device.

For example, the first storage device can be constructed as a storagedevice of high performance, high reliability or high speed; anupper-side second storage device can be constructed as a storage deviceof medium performance, medium reliability or medium speed; and thelower-side storage device can be constructed as a storage device of lowperformance, low reliability or low speed. The data movement controlpart changes data moving methods according to the kind of accesscontrol. command. In response to a predetermined access control command,the data movement control part performs data movement a plurality oftimes to vary the storage position of data in a step-by-step manner.

In one embodiment of the invention, a management table, whichtemporarily manages a limitation content of the access operation whenthe host adapter receives the access control command, is constructed inthe control memory. The data movement control part controls movement ofthe data by referring to the management table.

The invention can also be understood as providing a control method foran disk array apparatus. The whole or part of the invention can beconfigured as a computer program. This computer program can becirculated in the form of software stored in a storage medium, such as ahard disk drive, an optical disk drive or a semiconductor memory device,and it can also be circulated via a communications network, such as theInternet.

An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference toFIGS. 1 to 12C. As will be described hereinafter, the invention realizesa simple data saving function by causing cooperation between accessattribute control on logical devices and movement control on the logicaldevices.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the construction of adisk array apparatus 10.

The disk array apparatus 10 is connected to a plurality of hostcomputers 1 (only one of which is shown) via a communications networkCN1 to permit bi-directional communication therebetween. Thecommunications network CN1 includes, for example, a LAN (Local AreaNetwork), a SAN (Storage Area Network) and the Internet. In the casewhere a LAN is used, the data transfer between the host computer 1 andthe disk array apparatus 10 is performed in accordance with TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). In the case where aSAN is used, the data transfer between each of the host computer 1 andthe disk array apparatus 10 is performed in accordance with the FibreChannel Protocol. In addition, if the host computer 1 is a main frame,data communication is performed in accordance with a communicationprotocol such as FICON (Fiber Connection: registered trademark), ESCON(Enterprise System Connection: registered trademark), ACONARC (AdvancedConnection Architecture: registered trademark), and FIBARC (FibreConnection Architecture: registered trademark).

The host computer 1 is realized as, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a workstation, a main frame or a portable informationterminal. For example, the host computer 1 is connected to a pluralityof client terminals that are disposed at outside locations (not shown inFIG. 1), via another communications network. The host computer 1provides services to each of the client terminals by performingread/write of data from/to the disk array apparatus 10 according to, forexample, a request from each of the client terminals. The host computer1 is provided with, for example, an application program 1A, such aselectronic mail management software, and storage management software 1B.As will be described later, the storage management software 1B is usedfor setting access attributes and the like for individual logicaldevices.

A SVP (Service Processor) 2 is a computer unit that shows for providingmanagement and monitoring of the disk array apparatus 10. The SVP 2collects various kinds of information, such as environment informationand performance information, from each channel adapter (hereinafterabbreviated CHA) 11 and each disk adapter (hereinafter abbreviated DKA)12 via a communications network CN11 provided in the disk arrayapparatus 10. The information acquired by the SVP 2 includes, forexample, an apparatus configuration, a power source alarm, a temperaturealarm and an input/output speed (IOPS). The communications network CN11is configured as, for example, a LAN. A system manager can performvarious management operations, such as the process of setting the RAIDconfiguration of the disk array apparatus 10 and the lockout processingof various packages (such as the CHAs 11, the DKAs 12, disk drives), viaa user interface provided by the SVP 2. A console 3 is connected to theSVP 2 via a communications network CN3 and acquires the informationcollected by the SVP 2, and it makes it possible to generateinstructions, such as an instruction to modify the RAID configuration. Acommunications network CN2 may use, for example, a LAN or the Internet.

The disk array apparatus 10 is connected to an external storage controldevice 4 via the communications network CN2. The external storagecontrol device 4 can be configured as a disk array apparatus having astorage device 5. The storage device 5 of the external storage controldevice 4 is mapped into the disk array apparatus 10, and it is used asif it were an internal device of the disk array apparatus 10. Aplurality of mapping methods may be adopted. One method is to allocatethe external storage device 5 directly to a LUN (Logical Unit Number) ofthe disk array apparatus 10. Another method is to provide anintermediate virtual logical device (LDEV) below a LUN of the disk arrayapparatus 10 and to allocate the storage device 5 to this intermediatevirtual device.

The disk array apparatus 10 includes the channel adapters (CHAs) 11, thedisk adapters (DKAs) 12, a control memory 13, a cache memory 14, aswitch part 15, and storage devices 16, as will be described later. TheCHAs 11 and the DKAs 12 are realized by providing cooperation between,for example, a control program and a printed circuit board on which aprocessor, a memory and the like are mounted.

The disk array apparatus 10 is provided with a plurality of (forexample, four or eight) CHAs 11. The CHAs 11 are one example of hostadapters, and they are prepared according to the kinds of host computers1, like CHAs for an open system or CHAs for a main frame system. Each ofthe CHAs 11 controls the data transfer between a corresponding one ofthe host computers 1 and the disk array apparatus 10. Each of the CHAs11 is provided with a processor part, a data communication part and alocal memory part (none of which is shown).

Each of the CHAs 11 receives a command indicative of a data read/writerequest and data from the corresponding one of the host computers 1which are connected to the respective CHAs 11, and it operates inaccordance with the command received from the corresponding hostcomputer 1. First, the operations of the CHAs 11 will be described belowwith reference to the operations of the DKAs 12. For example, when theCHA 11 (shown on the left-hand side of FIG. 1) receives a data readcommand from the host computer 1, the CHA 11 stores the read commandinto the control memory 13. The DKA 12 is constantly referring to thecontrol memory 13, and when the DKA 12 discovers the unprocessed readcommand, the DKA 12 reads data from the storage devices 16 and storesthe read data into the cache memory 14. The CHA 11 reads the datatransferred to the cache memory 14 and transmits the read data to thehost computer 1 which has issued the data read command. In addition, forexample, when the CHA 11 receives a command indicative of a data writerequest from the host computer 1, the CHA 11 stores the write commandinto the control memory 13 and also stores received data into the cachememory 14. The DKA 12 stores the data stored in the cache memory 14 intoa predetermined one of the storage devices 16, in accordance with thecommand stored in the control memory 13. Furthermore, as will bedescribed later, when an access attribute command is issued from thehost computer 1, the CHA 11 sets the access attribute of the requestedlogical device (LDEV) and executes access control.

A plurality of (for example, four or eight) DKAs 12 are provided in thedisk array apparatus 10, Each of the DKAs 12 controls the data transferbetween the storage devices 16 and the cache memory 14 and is providedwith a processor part, a data communication part and a local memory part(none of which is shown). The DKAs 12 and the storage devices 16 areconnected to one another via a communications network CN12, such as aSAN, and they perform data transfer in units of blocks in accordancewith the Fibre Channel Protocol. Each of the DKAs 12 is constantlymonitoring the states of the storage devices 16, and they transmit theresult of this monitoring to the SVP 2 via the internal network CN11.

The disk array apparatus 10 is provided with a multiplicity of storagedevices 16. The storage devices 16 may be realized as, for example, harddisk drives (HDDs) or semiconductor memory devices. In this disk arrayapparatus 10, one RAID group 17 can be formed by, for example, four ofthe storage devices 16. RAID groups 17 are disk groups each of whichrealizes redundant storage of data in accordance with, for example, RAID5 (RAID 5 is not limitative). At least one logical device (LDEV) 18,which constitutes a logical storage area, can be set on a physicalstorage area provided by each of the RAID groups 17. It is to be notedthat one RAID group is formed by storage devices of the same kind.

The disk array apparatus 10 is provided with a plurality of differentkinds of storage devices 16H and 16L, each having a different attribute.The first storage devices 16H are one example of “first storagedevices”, and they are storage devices having high performance, highspeed or high reliability. The second storage devices 16L are oneexample of “second storage devices” or “upper-side second storagedevices”. The second storage devices 16L have low performance, low speedor low reliability compared to the first storage devices 16H. Thestorage device 5, which is used like an internal storage device of thedisk array apparatus 10 by mapping techniques, is one example of“lower-side second storage devices”. In terms of access speed andresponse speed, the first storage devices 16H, the second storagedevices 16L and the second storage devices 5 are faster in that order.In the following description, if the first storage devices 16H and thesecond storage devices 16L need not particularly be distinguished, thefirst and second storage devices 16H and 16L will be generally referredto as the “storage devices 16”.

The control memory 13 is made of, for example, a non-volatile memory,and it stores control information, management information and the like.The cache memory 14 mainly stores data. The control memory 13 alsostores management tables T1 to T3, which will be described below.

Examples of the structures of the respective management tables T1 to T3stored in the control memory 13 will be described below with referenceto FIGS. 2A to 2C. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a schematic structure ofthe LDEV configuration management table T1 stored in the disk arrayapparatus 10. The LDEV configuration management table T1 manages, forexample, RAID group numbers, LDEV numbers, status information, andattribute information, associating these items with one another. TheRAID group numbers are assigned to the respective RAID groups 17 whichconstitute a RAID system, and LDEV numbers are used for identifying theindividual LDEVs 18 belonging to each of the RAID groups 17. Statusinformation indicates the use status of each of the LDEVs 18, andattribute information indicates the attributes of the storage devices 16which constitute each of the RAID groups 17.

The status information may include, for example, three kinds ofinformation which are respectively named “used”, “reservable” and “used(LDEV #)”. The information “used” indicates that the corresponding oneof the LDEVs 18 is being used by any one of the host computers 1; theinformation “reservable” indicates that the corresponding one of theLDEVs 18 is not being used by any of the host computers 1; and theinformation “used (LDEV #)” indicates that migration is being performed.The attribute information for the storage devices 16 may include, forexample, three attributes which are respectively named “high speedinternal device”, “low speed internal device” and “low speed externaldevice”. The attribute “high speed internal device” indicates a highspeed storage device capable of being directly used by the disk arrayapparatus 10; the attribute “low speed internal device” indicates a lowspeed storage device capable of being directly used by the disk arrayapparatus 10; and the attribute “low speed external device” indicates alow speed storage device existing outside the disk array apparatus 10.The first storage devices 16H have the attribute “high speed internaldevice”; the second storage devices 16L have the attribute “low speedinternal device”; and the external storage device 5 has the attribute“low speed external device”, The status information and the deviceattribute information are not limited to the above-described kinds. Thefirst storage devices 16H can also be regarded as storage devices whichare currently used, and the second storage devices 16L and the externalstorage device 5 can be also be regarded as storage devices which areused for saving data or archiving.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of the structure of themigration management table T2. The migration management table T2 is oneexample of a “management table for temporarily managing the limitationcontent of an access operation” and is used in migration controlprocessing, which will be described later. The migration managementtable T2 manages, for example, an LDEV number for identifying an LDEV 18whose access attribute has been set or reset, the kind of inhibitattribute, and the date and time when the access attribute was set orreset. This migration management table T2 is created when the accessattribute of an LDEV 18 has been set or reset from the host computer 1(or the SVP 2 or the console 3) and is not permanently stored. In thecase where migration control (control to be executed to move a logicaldevice) is completed, the migration management table T2 is deleted fromthe control memory 13. However, this example is not limitative, and thedisk array apparatus 10 may also be configured so that the whole or partof the migration management table T2 is perpetually stored.

FIG. 2C is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the accessattribute management table T3. The access attribute management table T3is used in access attribute control processing, which will be describedlater. The access attribute management table T3 manages, for example,the LDEV numbers of the respective LDEVs 18 and access attribute controlbits which have been set on each of the LDEVs 18, associating each ofthe LDEV numbers with the access attribute control bits. In addition,the access attribute management table T3 may also include authenticationinformation (such as a password) for enabling access attributes to bemodified only by a person having predetermined authority. The accessattribute management table T3 functions as means for holding accessattribute modes which are set for the respective LDEVs 18, and it alsofunctions as means for inhibiting the settings of the access attributemodes from being modified by a subject having no authority. The accessattribute management table T3 includes a number of rows that is equal tothe number of implemented LDEVs 18.

The access attribute management table T3 has a read inhibit bit, a writeinhibit bit, an inquiry inhibit bit, a read capacity 0 report bit and anS-vol disable bit in each of the columns corresponding to the respectiveLDEV numbers, as information for holding an access attribute mode(access attribute mode information) which is set for each of the LDEVs18. The read inhibit bit indicates that, if its value is “1”, thereading of data from the corresponding LDEV is disabled, while if thevalue is “0”, the reading of data is enabled. The write inhibit bitindicates that, if its value is “1”, the writing of data to thecorresponding LDEV is disabled, while if the value is “0”, the writingof data is enabled. The inquiry inhibit bit indicates that, if its valueis “1”, the recognition of the corresponding LDEV is disabled, while ifthe value is “0”, the recognition is enabled. The read capacity 0 reportbit indicates that, if its value is “1”, a capacity of zero is reportedin response to a read capacity command for the corresponding LDEV, whileif the value is “0”, an actual capacity is reported. The S-vol disablebit indicates that, if its value is “1”, the S-vol specification isdisabled with respect to the corresponding LDEV, while if the value is“0”, the S-vol specification is enabled. Further details of each accessattribute will be described later.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams showing the kinds of access attributes tobe set for each of the LDEVs 18. Six kinds of access attribute modes canbe set for each of the LDEVs 18, as will be described below in (Mode 1)to (Mode 6).

(Mode 1) Read/Write Enable

As shown in FIG. 3A, the host computer 1 can perform both reading andwriting of data from and to an LDEV for which this access attribute modehas been set, and can also recognize this LDEV.

(Mode 2) Read Only

As shown in FIG. 3A, the host computer 1 can perform reading of datafrom an LDEV for which this access attribute mode has been set, and itcan also recognize this LDEV, but is disabled from writing data to theLDEV.

(Mode 3) Read/Write Disable

As shown in FIG. 3A, the host computer 1 is disabled from both readingand writing data from and to an LDEV for which this access attributemode has been set, but it can recognize this LDEV.

(Mode 4) Read Capacity 0

As shown in FIG. 3A, the host computer 1 can recognize an LDEV for whichthis access attribute mode has been set. However, in response to a readcapacity command (a command to check the storage capacity of this LDEV)from the host computer 1, an answer indicating that the storage capacityis “0” is returned to the host computer 1. Accordingly, the hostcomputer 1 cannot read or write data from or to this LDEV.

(Mode 5) Inquiry Inhibit

As shown in FIG. 3A, the host computer 1 cannot recognize an LDEV forwhich this access attribute mode has been set.

Namely, in response to an inquiry from the host computer 1 about how theLDEV can be recognized, an answer indicating that this LDEV does notexist is returned to the host computer 1. Accordingly, the host computer1 cannot read or write data from or to the LDEV, nor gain any accessesto the LDEV, such as an access for checking the read capacity thereof.However, in a copy pair forming operation to be performed by the diskarray apparatus 10 as an internal function thereof, the LDEV can bespecified as a secondary volume relative to another LDEV (S-volspecification).

(Mode 6) Secondary Volume Disable (S-vol disable)

As shown in FIG. 3A, an LDEV for which this access attribute mode hasbeen set cannot be specified as a secondary volume for duplexing anyother LDEV. However, the host computer 1 can read and write data fromand to this LDEV, and it can also recognize the same.

FIG. 3A shows what access control is performed by the disk arrayapparatus 10 as to each of LDEVs 18 for which the six kinds of accessattribute modes have been set, respectively. In FIG. 3A, each circlemeans that access control is performed to enable the correspondingoperation, while each cross means that access control is performed todisable the corresponding operation. The symbols “0” and “READ CAPACITY”concerning READ CAPACITY represent that the content of a response to aread capacity command from the host computer 1 is a capacity of “0” oran actual capacity of the LDEV.

Among the above-described six kinds of access attribute modes, the modes“read/write enable”, “read only”, “read/write disable” and “S-voldisable” can also be applied to LDEVs to be used by either main-framehost computers or open-system host computers. On the other hand, in thisembodiment, the modes “read capacity 0” and “inquiry inhibit” can beapplied to only LDEVs to be used by open-system host computers, andcannot be applied to LDEVs to be used by main-frame host computers. Thisconfiguration is not necessarily limitative.

Among the above-described six kinds of access attribute modes, any oneselected from among the modes “read/write enable”, “read only”,“read/write disable”, “read capacity 0” and “inquiry inhibit” can be setfor one LDEV. On the other hand, the mode “S-vol disable” can be set forthe same LDEV independently of the other five kinds of access attributemodes (namely, together with these five kinds). For example, the mode“read/write enable” and the mode “S-vol disable” can be set for the sameLDEV.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the correspondence between the six kinds ofaccess attribute modes and the bit patterns of the access attributecontrol bits (the read inhibit bit, the write inhibit bit, the inquiryinhibit bit, the read capacity 0 report bit, and the S-vol disable bit).In the access attribute management table T3, when the access attributecontrol bits are set in the bit patterns shown in FIG. 3B, each of theabove-described six kinds of access attribute modes is set (or the modesettings are released).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the storagedevices 16 and the LDEVs 18.

The following description will refer to the first storage devices 16H byway of example, but this is not limitative. Each of the LDEVs 18(#1 to#4) can be used by a different one of the host computers 1-1 to 1-4. Thesame host computer can also use a plurality of LDEVs 18. FIG. 4illustratively shows a case where the respective LDEVs 18(#1 to #4) areused by the different host computers 1-1 to 1-4.

Each of the LDEVs 18(#1 to #4) is created to extend across a pluralityof (in the illustrated example, four) physical storage devices 16H, byusing their partial storage areas. The write inhibit bit is set for theLDEV 18(#2). Accordingly, the data of the LDEV 18(#2) cannot be updatedfrom the host computer 1-2. The read/write inhibit bit is set for theLDEV 18(#3). Accordingly, the host computer 1-3 cannot perform dataupdating nor data reading on the LDEV 18(#3), The access attribute modesfor each of the LDEVs 18 are managed by the access attribute managementtable T3 included in the control memory 13.

The CHA 11 is provided, for example, with an access attribute controlprogram P1. The access attribute control program P1 provides the CHA 11with an access attribute control function which is executed by aprocessor provided in the CHA 11. The access attribute control programP1 controls accesses to the individual LDEVs 18 by referring to theaccess attribute management table T3.

The control memory 13 stores the RAID configuration management table T1,the migration management table T2 and the access attribute managementtable T3.

The DKA 12 is provided with, for example, a migration control program P2and an address translation program P3. The programs P2 and P3 give theDKA 12 a migration control function and an address translation function,respectively, as they are executed by a processor provided in the DKA12, The migration control program P2 controls the storage position ofeach of the LDEVs 18 in accordance with an access attribute mode. Theaddress translation program P3 translates logical addresses intophysical addresses.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are state transition diagrams schematically showing thestate in which the storage position of one of the LDEVs 18 varies. FIG.5A shows the case where an LDEV is moved (saved or archived) from astorage device of high access performance to a storage device of lowaccess performance, while FIG. SB shows the case where the LDEV is moved(restored) from the storage device of low access performance to thestorage device of high access performance.

Although the details thereof will be described later, as shown in FIG.5A, when the mode “read/write inhibit” is set for an LDEV which is seton the first storage devices 16H, which are “high speed externaldevices”, this LDEV is transferred from the first storage devices 16H tothe external storage device 5, which is a “low speed external device”,as shown by a dot-dashed line in FIG. 5A. On the other hand, when themode “write inhibit” is set for an LDEV which is set on the firststorage devices 16H, this LDEV is transferred to the second storagedevices 16L, which are “low speed internal devices”, after the lapse ofa predetermined maintenance period. Incidentally, after this LDEV hasbeen stored in the second storage devices 16L for a second maintenanceperiod, the LDEV may also be again moved from the second storage devices16L to the external storage device 5. In the following description ofmigration control processing, reference will be made to the case wherethe LDEV is moved from the first storage devices 16H to the secondstorage devices 16L after the lapse of the first maintenance period, anda detailed description of the case where the LDEV is moved from thesecond storage devices 16L to the external storage device 5 after thelapse of the second maintenance period will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5B, when access limitation is released, that is, whenthe mode is changed to any access attribute other than “write inhibit”or “read/write inhibit”, the LDEV is returned to the first storagedevices 16H, which represent the original storage position. For example,when the mode “write inhibit” or “read/write inhibit” is released in thecase where the LDEV is transferred to the second storage devices 16L,the LDEV is transferred from the second storage devices 16L to the firststorage devices 16H as shown by a dashed line. On the other hand, whenthe mode “write inhibit” or “read/write inhibit” is released in the casewhere the LDEV is transferred to the external storage device 5, the LDEVis transferred from the external storage device 5 to the first storagedevices 16H. Even when the access attribute mode is changed, if the modeis changed, for example, from “write inhibit” to “read/write inhibit”,the storage position of the LDEV does not change. Incidentally, whenaccess limitation is released, the LDEV can also be moved to a storagedevice different from the original storage device in which the LDEV hasbeen set. For example, there is a case where a storage device of higherperformance than the original storage device is added to the disk arrayapparatus 10.

The entire operation of migration control according to this embodimentwill be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. As shown in FIG.6, when the storage management software 1B of the host computer 1 setsthe mode “write inhibit” for the LDEV 18(#2) of the first storagedevices 16H, this access attribute mode is stored in the accessattribute management table T3. The access attribute control program P1performs access control on the basis of the access attribute managementtable T3.

When a predetermined access attribute mode (“write inhibit” or“read/write inhibit”) is set, information on this access attribute modeis registered in the migration management table T2. This registration isperformed by the CHA 11. The migration control program P2 periodicallyrefers to the migration management table T2, and if a predeterminedaccess attribute mode is registered, the migration control program P2moves the LDEV 18(#2), for which the predetermined access attribute modehas been set, to either the second storage devices 16L or the externalstorage device 5 by using the LDEV configuration management table T1.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the predetermined access attribute mode isreleased, the LDEV 18(#2) which has been transferred to the secondstorage devices 16L is transferred to the first storage devices 16H. Inaddition, as shown in FIG. 8, when the predetermined access attributemode is released, the LDEV 18(#2) which has been transferred to theexternal storage device 5 is transferred to the first storage devices16H.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of the access attribute controlprocessing. This processing is executed by the CHA 11.

First, the CHA 11 determines whether it has received a command to set anaccess attribute mode (S11). If the CHA 11 has received a command to setan access attribute mode (S11: YES), the CHA 11 determines whether thecontent of the command to set the specified access attribute isconformable to the setting conditions (S12). At this step, the CHA 11checks whether the received command is an access attribute set commandfrom the host computer 1 having authority. If the content of the commanddoes not conform to the setting conditions (S12: NO), the CHA 11 bringsthe processing to an end without setting the access attribute mode. Ifthe content of the command conforms to the setting conditions (S12:YES), the CHA 11 registers the set access attribute mode in the accessattribute management table T3 (S13). Information about the settings ofthe access attribute mode is also registered in the migration managementtable T2 which is temporarily created in the control memory 13.

On the other hand, if the command received from the outside is not acommand to set an access attribute mode (S11: NO), the CHA 11 determineswhether it has received a command other than the access attribute setcommand (S14) If the CHA 11 has received data other than a command (S14:NO), the CHA 11 brings the processing to an end, If the CHA 11 hasreceived a write command or a read command (S14: YES), the CHA 11determines which of the LDEVs 18 has been requested as an LDEV to beaccessed (S15) and refers to the access attribute management table T3(S16). Then, the CHA 11 determines, on the basis of the access attributemanagement table T3, whether the CHA 11 can execute the content ofprocessing requested from the host computer 1 (S17). For example, theCHA 11 determines whether writing to an LDEV 18 requested as a writingLDEV is enabled, and if the CHA 11 determines that the requested contentcan be processed (S17: YES), the CHA 11 executes the requestedprocessing and returns an answer to the host computer 1 (S18). On theother hand, for example, if data updating of a write-disabled LDEV 18 isrequested (S17: NO), the CHA 11 brings the processing to an end withoutexecuting the processing requested from the host computer 1. In thiscase, the CHA 11 notifies the host computer 1 that the requestedprocessing cannot be executed.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the outline of migration controlprocessing. This processing is executed by the DKA 12. The DKA 12periodically (or nonperiodically) refers to the migration managementtable T2 in the control memory 13 (S21 and S22). The DRA 12 checks todetermined whether information about a new access limitation isregistered in the migration management table T2 (S23). If informationabout an access limitation is not registered (S23: NO), the DKA 12brings the processing to an end.

If a new access limitation is registered (S23: YES), the DKA 12determines whether the mode “write inhibit” has been set (S24). If themode “write inhibit” has not been set (S24: NO), the DKA 12 determineswhether the mode “read/write inhibit” has been set (S25). If the mode“read/write inhibit” has been set (S25: YES), the DKA 12 searches forthe low speed external device (the external storage device 5) byreferring to the LDEV configuration management table T1 (S26), and itdetermines whether an empty LDEV exists in the external storage device 5(S27). If an empty LDEV exists in the external storage device 5 (S27:YES), the DKA 12 moves an LDEV, for which the mode “read/write inhibit”has been set, from the first storage devices 16H to the empty LDEV ofthe external storage device 5 (S28). The DKA 12 stores a modifiedconfiguration resulting from this data movement into the LDEVconfiguration management table T1 (S29). The DKA 12 erases informationabout the access limitation of the moved data from the migrationmanagement table T2 (S30).

If the mode “write inhibit” has been set (S24: YES), the DKA 12determines whether a predetermined maintenance period has elapsed fromthe date and time when the mode “write inhibit” has been set (S31). Ifthe predetermined maintenance period has hot yet elapsed (S31: NO), theDKA 12 brings the processing to an end without performing data movement(S32). Accordingly, an LDEV for which the mode “write inhibit” has beenset stays at the current storage location (the first storage devices16H).

If the predetermined maintenance period has elapsed (S31: YES), the DKA12 checks to determine whether an empty LDEV exists in the low speedinternal device (the second storage devices 16L) by referring to theLDEV configuration management table T1 (S32 and S33). If an empty LDEVexists (S33: YES), the DKA 12 moves the LDEV, for which the mode “writeinhibit” has been set, from the first storage devices 16H to the secondstorage devices 16L (S34). Then, after data movement has been completed,the DKA 12 updates the LDEV configuration management table T1 and themigration management table T2 in a manner similar to the above-describedmanner (S29 and S33).

On the other hand, if an empty LDEV does not exist in the second storagedevices 16L (S33: NO), the DKA 12 searches for the configuration of theexternal storage device 5 on the basis of the LDEV configurationmanagement table T1 (S35), and it determines whether an empty LDEVexists in the external storage device 5 (S36). If an empty LDEV does notexist in the external storage device 5 (S36: NO), the DKA 12 cannotperform data movement, and it brings the processing to an end. If anempty LDEV exists in the external storage device (S36: YES), the DKA 12moves the LDEV for which the mode “write inhibit” has been set from thefirst storage devices 16H to the external storage device 5 (S37), and itupdates the LDEV configuration management table T1 and the migrationmanagement table T2 and brings the processing to an end (S29 and S30).

On the other hand, in the case where the mode “read/write inhibit” hasbeen set, if an empty LDEV does not exist in the external storage device5 (S27: NO), the DKA 12 determines whether an empty LDEV exists in thesecond storage devices 16L (S32 and S33); and, if an empty LDEV existsin the second storage devices 16L (S33: YES), the DKA 12 moves the LDEV,for which the mode “read/write inhibit” has been set, from the firststorage devices 16H to the second storage devices 16L (S34).

In this manner, locations to which data are to be moved are initiallyset for the respective predetermined access attribute modes (“writeinhibit” and “read/write inhibit”) (in the case of “write inhibit”, thesecond storage devices 16L; in the case of “read/write inhibit”, theexternal storage device 5), and if there is no empty area in aninitially set location, the DKA 12 searches for an empty area in astorage device other than the initially set location (in the case of“write inhibit”, if there is no empty area in the second storage devices16L, the DKA 12 searches the external storage device 5; in the case of“read/write inhibit”, if there is no empty area in the external storagedevice 5, the DNA 12 searches the second storage devices 16L).

FIG. 11 shows an outline of the migration control processing to beexecuted in the case where an LDEV transferred from the first storagedevices 16H to the second storage devices 16L or the external storagedevice 5 is restored to the first storage devices 16H. This processingis executed by the DNA12.

First, the DNA 12 checks the migration management table T2 (S41 andS42), and it determines whether there exists an LDEV for which an accessattribute mode has been modified, that is, an LDEV for which apredetermined access limitation (“write inhibit” or “read/writeinhibit”) has been released (S43).

For example, as shown in FIG. 12A, since the LDEV 18(#2) has been movedto the LDEV 18(#8) of the external storage device 5, the use status ofthe LDEV 18 (#8) is set to “used (#02)”. As shown in FIG. 12B, if theaccess limitation is released, information (represented by “-” in FIG.12B) indicating the date and time of release and the fact that theaccess limitation has been released is recorded on the migrationmanagement table T2. In addition, when the access limitation isreleased, the contents of the access attribute management table T3 aremodified, as shown in FIG. 12C. For example, the access attribute modesof the LDEV 18(#2) are modified to enable both reading and writing ofthe LDEV 18(#2).

In Step S43, if an LDEV for which the predetermined access limitationhas been released does not exist (S43: NO), the DNA 12 brings theprocessing to an end. If an LDEV for which the predetermined accesslimitation has been. released exists (S43: YES), the DNA 12 searches foran empty LDEV in the first storage devices 16H, which are “high speedinternal devices”, by referring to the LDEV configuration managementtable T1, and it determines whether an empty LDEV exists (S44 and S45).

If an empty LDEV exists in the first storage devices 16H (S45: YES), theDNA 12 moves the LDEV, which has been transferred to the second storagedevices 16L or the external storage device 5, to the first storagedevices 16H (S46). Then, the DNA 12 reflects a modified configuration,resulting from this data movement, onto the LDEV configurationmanagement table T1 (S47). In addition, to reflect this data movement,the DKA 12 erases information about the release of the accesslimitation, which has been recorded in the migration management table T2(S48).

In the case where data movement is performed in the disk array apparatus10 (internal migration), data to be moved is read to the cache memory 14by the DKA 12 and is copied from the cache memory 14 to a storage deviceto which the data is to be moved. If data is to be moved between theinside and the outside of the disk array apparatus 10 (externalmigration), data to be moved is read to the cache memory 14 by the DKA12 and is transmitted via the CHA 11 to a storage device to which thedata is to be moved (in the case of inside→outside). Otherwise, data tobe moved is read and stored into the cache memory 14 by the CHA 11, andthis stored data is copied by the DNA 12 to an internal storage deviceto which the data is to be moved (in the case of outside →inside).

According to this embodiment, which is constructed in theabove-described manner, in the case where either of the modes “writeinhibit” and “read/write inhibit” is set, an LDEV (data) for which thisaccess limitation has been set is moved from the current storageposition to another storage position, whereby a simple data savingfunction, which does not need a special data saving operation, can berealized, thereby to improve the ease of use of the disk arrayapparatus.

When either of the modes “write inhibit” and “read/write inhibit” isset, it is possible to rationally infer that manipulation of data needsto be prevented, and, for example, medium- or long-term data saving isrequested. In the case of medium- or long-term data saving, it is ageneral practice that data manipulation is, at the same time, requiredto be disabled, and writing of data needs to be disabled for the purposeof preventing manipulation. For this reason, an LDEV for which apredetermined access limitation has been set is moved from the firststorage devices 16H, which are currently used, to the second storagedevices 16L or the external storage device 5. Accordingly, merely bysetting the access attribute modes, it is possible to move data withoutthe need to perform any other manual operation. In addition, it ispossible to ensure an empty area in the first storage devices 16H, whichare currently frequently used, and it is possible to efficiently use thestorage devices 16L and 5, which are low in frequency of use.

In the case where the mode “read/write inhibit” is set, it isdetermined, at the time of setting, that execution of long-term savinghas also been selected, so that data is immediately moved to theexternal storage device 5. In the case where the mode “write inhibit” isset, since a read request is still enabled, the current storage positionis maintained until the lapse of a maintenance period (which can bevariably set within a range of, for example, several days to ten andseveral days or the like), and data is moved to another storage positionafter the lapse of the maintenance period. Accordingly, it is possibleto improve the ease of use to a further extent and effectively use thestorage resources.

Furthermore, it is possible to realize a simple data saving function bythe cooperation between the access attribute control processing and themigration control processing, namely, by interlocking the accessattribute control processing with the migration control processing.Accordingly, it is possible to provide a simple data saving function andmanagement function without increasing the manufacturing cost. Inaddition, it is possible to save and manage a wide variety and a largequantity of data for a long term without the need for troubling a systemmanager.

In addition, since a data saving function and a data management functionare provided within the disk array apparatus 10, it is possible to copewith cases where the configuration or the like of the host computer 1 ismodified, whereby it is possible to reduce the time-consuming operationsrequired to maintain the data saving function.

The invention is not limited to only the above-described embodiment.Various additions and modifications can be made by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the migration control may also be executed not only by DKAs butalso by the cooperative work between DKAs and CHAs or by otherprocessors other than DKAs and CHAs, or by CHAs.

1. A disk array apparatus, comprising: first storage devices, which arehigh speed devices, having a plurality of first storage areas; secondstorage devices, which are low speed devices relative to the high speeddevices, having a plurality of second storage areas; and a controllerwhich is arranged to be coupled to a host computer and which controls aread/write operation of data to or from one of the first storage areasin response to a read/write command issued from the host computer;wherein the controller includes information relating to an accessauthority to each of the first storage areas, said information beingused when a read/write command is received for reading/writing datastored in said first storage areas, and said information being changedin response to a command received by said disk array apparatus to changean access authority; wherein the controller executes control to movedata from one of the first storage areas to one of the second storageareas in response to an access authority change command received fromthe host computer inhibiting an access authority of the host computer tothe first storage area from which the data is moved; wherein thecontroller executes control to move data from one of the second storageareas to one of the first storage areas in response to an accessauthority change command received from the host computer releasing saidinhibiting of an access authority of the host computer to said one ofthe first storage areas to which the data is moved.
 2. A disk arrayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information relating to anaccess authority to each of the first storage areas includes informationrelating to a) a method of enabling both reading and writing, b) amethod of enabling reading but inhibiting writing, or c) a method ofinhibiting both reading and writing.
 3. A disk array apparatus accordingto claim 2, wherein the controller includes an access attributemanagement table, and wherein the access attribute management tablestores therein, the information relating to an access authority of eachof the first storage areas.
 4. A disk array apparatus according to claim1, wherein each of the second storage areas is connected to thecontroller, and the controller operates so as to use the second storageareas in a similar manner to the first storage areas.
 5. A disk arrayapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller includesinformation making each of the second storage areas correspond to a LUN(Logical Unit Number) managed by the disk array apparatus.
 6. A diskarray system comprising: said disk array apparatus according to claim 1;and a second disk array apparatus; wherein said second disk arrayapparatus comprises: third storage devices, which are low speed devicesrelative to the high speed devices, having a plurality of third storageareas; and a second controller which is coupled to said disk arrayapparatus and controls a read/write operation of data sent from saiddisk array apparatus, for one of said third storage areas.
 7. A diskarray apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a channeladapter arranged to control data transfer between the host computer andthe disk array apparatus; wherein the channel adapter: determineswhether it has received a command from the host computer to set anaccess authority to said one of the first storage areas; if the channeladapter has received a command from the host computer to set an accessauthority, the channel adapter determines whether the content of thecommand conforms to predetermined setting conditions as to whether thehost computer sending the command has authority to set the accessauthority; if the content of the command does not conform to the settingconditions, the channel adapter ends processing without setting theaccess authority; if the content of the command conforms to the settingconditions, the channel adapter sets the access authority in an accessattribute management table, and registers information about the settingsof the access authority in a migration management table; if the commandreceived from the host computer is not a command to set an accessauthority, the channel adapter determines whether it has received acommand other than the access authority set command; if the channeladapter has received data from the host computer other than a command,the channel adapter ends processing; if the channel adapter has receiveda write command or a read command, the channel adapter determines whichof the first storage devices has been requested to be accessed andrefers to the access attribute management table; the channel adapterdetermines, on the basis of the access attribute management table,whether the channel adapter can execute the content of processingrequested by the command according to the access authority of the hostcomputer to the first storage area of the requested first storagedevice; and if the channel adapter determines that the requestedprocessing can be executed, the channel adapter executes the requestedprocessing and returns an answer to the host computer as to whether therequested processing can be executed.
 8. A disk array apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is a disk adapter thatcontrols data transfer between the storage devices and a cache memory,and wherein the disk adapter: refers to a migration management table todetermined whether information about an access authority has been newlyregistered in the migration management table; if information about anaccess authority has not been newly registered, the disk adapter endsprocessing; if an access authority has been newly registered, the diskadapter determines whether an access authority “write inhibit” has beenset with respect to said one of the first storage areas; if the accessauthority “write inhibit” has not been set, the disk adapter determineswhether an access authority “read/write inhibit” has been set withrespect to said one of the first storage areas; if the access authority“read/write inhibit” has been set, the disk adapter searches for alow-speed external storage device by referring to a storage deviceconfiguration management table, and determines whether an empty storagearea exists in the external storage device; if an empty storage areaexists in the external storage device, the disk adapter executes controlto move data from said one of the first storage areas for which theaccess authority “read/write inhibit” has been set, to the empty storagearea of the external storage device, stores a modified configurationresulting from this data movement into the storage device configurationmanagement table, and erases information about the access limitation ofthe moved data from the migration management table; if the accessauthority “write inhibit” has been set, the disk adapter determineswhether a predetermined maintenance period has elapsed from the date andtime when the access authority “write inhibit”; if the predeterminedmaintenance period has not yet elapsed, the disk adapter ends theprocessing without performing data movement; if the predeterminedmaintenance period has elapsed, the disk adapter determines whether anempty storage area exists in one of the second storage devices byreferring to the storage device configuration management table; if anempty storage area exists in one of the second storage devices, the diskadapter moves data from said one of the first storage areas for whichthe access authority “write inhibit” has been set to the empty storagearea of the second storage device, and updates the storage configurationmanagement table and the migration management table; if an empty storagearea does not exist in the second storage devices, the disk adaptersearches for the configuration of the external storage device on thebasis of the storage device configuration management table, anddetermines whether an empty storage area exists in the external storagedevice; if an empty storage area does not exist in the external storagedevice, the disk adapter ends processing; if an empty storage areaexists in the external storage device, the disk adapter moves data fromsaid one of the first storage areas for which the access authority“write inhibit” has been set to the empty storage area of the externalstorage device, updates the storage device configuration managementtable and the migration management table, and ends processing; and ifthe access authority “read/write inhibit” has been set, if an emptystorage area does not exist in the external storage device, the diskadapter determines whether an empty storage device exists in the secondstorage devices and, if an empty storage area exists in the secondstorage devices, the disk adapter moves data from said one of the firststorage areas for which the access authority “read/write inhibit” hasbeen set to the empty storage area of the second storage devices.
 9. Adisk array apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adisk adapter that controls data transfer between the storage devices anda cache memory, and wherein the disk adapter: checks a migrationmanagement table to determine whether there exists a first storage areafor which an access authority has been changed; if there exists a firststorage area for which an access authority has been changed to releasesaid inhibiting, the disk adapter modifies the contents of an accessattribute management table; if there exists no first storage area forwhich the access authority has been changed to release said inhibiting,the disk adapter ends processing; if there exists a first storage areafor which the access authority has been changed to release saidinhibiting, the disk adapter searches for an empty storage area in thefirst storage devices by referring to a storage configuration managementtable, and determines whether an empty storage area in the first storagedevices exists; if an empty storage area exists in the first storagedevices, the disk adapter moves data stored in the second storagedevices or the external storage device to the first storage area forwhich the access authority has been changed to release said inhibiting;reflects a modified configuration, resulting from this data movement,onto the storage configuration management table; and erases informationabout the release of the inhibiting from the migration management table;if the data movement is performed from the second storage areas to thefirst storage area, the disk adapter reads the data to the cache memoryand then copies the data from the cache memory to the first storage areato which the data is to be moved; if the data movement is performed fromthe external storage area to the first storage area, the disk adapterreads the data to the cache memory and transmits the data via a channeladapter to the first storage area to which the data is to be moved. 10.A disk array apparatus, comprising: first storage devices, which arehigh speed devices, having a plurality of first storage areas; secondstorage devices, which are low speed devices, relative to the high speeddevices, having a plurality of second storage areas; and a controllerwhich is arranged to be coupled to a host computer and which controls aread/write operation of data for one of the first storage areas inresponse to a read/write command issued from the host computer; whereinthe controller includes information relating to an access authority toeach of the first storage areas, said information being used when aread/write command is received for reading/writing data stored in saidfirst storage areas, and said information being changed in response to acommand received by said disk array apparatus to change an accessauthority; wherein the controller executes control to move data from oneof the first storage areas to one of the second storage areas inresponse to an access authority change command received from the hostcomputer inhibiting an access authority of the host computer to thefirst storage area from which the data is moved; wherein the controllerexecutes control to move data from one of the second storage areas toone of the first storage areas in response to an access authority changecommand received from the host computer releasing said inhibiting of anaccess authority of the host computer to said one of the first storageareas to which the data is moved; the controller includes informationrelating to an access authority to said second storage areas; and saidinformation is changed in response to a command received by said diskarray apparatus to change an access authority.
 11. A disk arrayapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the information relating to anaccess authority of each of the first storage areas includes informationrelating to at least one of a method of enabling both reading andwriting, a method of enabling reading but inhibiting writing, and amethod of inhibiting both reading and writing.
 12. A disk arrayapparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller includes anaccess attribute management table, and wherein the access attributemanagement table stores therein, as the information relating to anaccess authority of each of the first storage areas, informationrelating to at least one of a method of enabling both reading andwriting, a method of enabling reading but inhibiting writing and amethod of inhibiting both reading and writing, for each of the secondstorage areas.
 13. A disk array apparatus according to claim 10, whereineach of the second storage areas is connected to the controller, and thecontroller operates so as to use the second storage areas in a similarmanner to the first storage areas.
 14. A disk array apparatus accordingto claim 10, wherein the controller includes information making each ofthe second storage areas correspond to a LUN (Logical Unit Number)managed by the disk array apparatus.
 15. A disk array system comprisingsaid disk array apparatus according to claim 10; and a second disk arrayapparatus, wherein said second disk array apparatus comprises: thirdstorage devices, which are low speed devices relative to the high speeddevices, having a plurality of third storage areas; and a secondcontroller which is coupled to said disk array apparatus and controls aread/write operation of data for said third storage areas.